The fear of death - Think Atheist2015-03-03T23:01:03Zhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/forum/topics/the-fear-of-death?commentId=1982180%3AComment%3A697377&xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noWhatever jaredtag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-06-16:1982180:Comment:7070102011-06-16T06:09:38.599ZJason Wardhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/JasonWard
Whatever jared<br/>
Whatever jared<br/> We have lost 6 family members…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-06-15:1982180:Comment:7060632011-06-15T16:39:04.131ZRiver Lizardhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/RiverLizardJeff
We have lost 6 family members (dogs, cats and lizards) and all of them were cremated. I miss them all but I remember all the great times we had together. We currently have a dog that's at the age of 18 years old, time is running out for him, it's only a matter of time. My wife is going to take this one the hardest I'm afraid. That dog won't leave her side ever while she's in the house. <br/>
We have lost 6 family members (dogs, cats and lizards) and all of them were cremated. I miss them all but I remember all the great times we had together. We currently have a dog that's at the age of 18 years old, time is running out for him, it's only a matter of time. My wife is going to take this one the hardest I'm afraid. That dog won't leave her side ever while she's in the house. <br/> I agree.
I have softened my s…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-06-15:1982180:Comment:7059382011-06-15T14:50:03.544ZBlondinhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/DaveRoscoe
<p>I agree.</p>
<p>I have softened my stance on this subject. I used to say that I really didn't want any kind of funeral or service - that if they really wanted to respect my wishes they would do as little as possible in that regard. However, about five years ago (and I know this will probably sound a little weird), my beloved canine buddy, Toby, had to be put down due to cancer. The vet asked me how I wanted the remains disposed of and I opted for the cheap burial-in-somebody's-back-forty…</p>
<p>I agree.</p>
<p>I have softened my stance on this subject. I used to say that I really didn't want any kind of funeral or service - that if they really wanted to respect my wishes they would do as little as possible in that regard. However, about five years ago (and I know this will probably sound a little weird), my beloved canine buddy, Toby, had to be put down due to cancer. The vet asked me how I wanted the remains disposed of and I opted for the cheap burial-in-somebody's-back-forty option. After the deed was done and we had returned home to gloomily contemplate our Tobyless abode I found myself increasingly uncomfortable with the idea of his body being in some unknown, strange place. I knew perfectly well that it made no difference to him but it just didn't feel right and I wanted him to be close. I phoned the vet and told them I had changed my mind about the disposal of our dog's remains. I went back and picked him up and we buried him in the bush at the back of our property. I can't explain why I felt so much better about being able to "say goodbye" to him in this way - it seems quite irrational even to me, now.</p>
<p>Anyway, I realized that I had no authority to tell anybody how or when they should handle their grief.</p> How would giving them the ben…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-06-14:1982180:Comment:7050652011-06-14T23:36:59.338ZJason Wardhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/JasonWard
How would giving them the benefit of your knowledge put pressure on them? So....no.
How would giving them the benefit of your knowledge put pressure on them? So....no. I don't call that immortalit…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-06-14:1982180:Comment:7042012011-06-14T11:57:33.743ZAkshay Bisthttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/AkshayBist
<blockquote><p>I don't call that immortality.</p>
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<p>Its the immortality of your ideas, your work, your memories etc, not of the person. Not a huge fan of it, but hey, it'd be great if I could achieve it.</p>
<blockquote><p>Like the rest of us, he is incapable of experiencing his own death, so for him it never really happened.</p>
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<p>But it did happen.</p>
<p>Before he pulled the trigger he knew he was gonna die. And his body felt the shock of dying, of the bullet…</p>
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I don't call that immortality.</p>
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<p>Its the immortality of your ideas, your work, your memories etc, not of the person. Not a huge fan of it, but hey, it'd be great if I could achieve it.</p>
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Like the rest of us, he is incapable of experiencing his own death, so for him it never really happened.</p>
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<p>But it did happen.</p>
<p>Before he pulled the trigger he knew he was gonna die. And his body felt the shock of dying, of the bullet going through his body, even if it was for a split second. That he didn't get to consciously process it doesn't matter. He did feel it.</p>
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No matter how much he achieved, or how many children he left, he is no longer around to appreciate it.</p>
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<p>Thats why death is such a huge bummer.</p>
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In the absence of an afterlife in any spiritual dimension, I postulated that the only way a person's consciousness could continue would be in the physical dimension, reliant on other people's physical presence and their memory.</p>
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<p>The way you stated it, you postulated a spiritual dimension of your own. But if you meant living on in the memory of people who knew you or knew of you, then how is it any different from what I said?</p>
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But if you want to Mr Dismissive by quoting Sam Harris talking about something completely different that has no relevance here</p>
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<p>Pfft! You aren't gonna let that go are you? That quote applies very well in that situation. It doesn't matter if it was originally used in some other discussion. Thats the beauty of quotes. They can be used again &amp; again, in different discussions.</p> Funny I was thinking the same…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-06-14:1982180:Comment:7041762011-06-14T10:10:31.954ZJason Wardhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/JasonWard
Funny I was thinking the same thing about you, poor kid.
Funny I was thinking the same thing about you, poor kid. And how eloquent of you to q…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-06-14:1982180:Comment:7040472011-06-14T05:23:29.033ZAkshay Bisthttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/AkshayBist
<blockquote><p>And how eloquent of you to quote Sam Harris, out of context, talking about a separate subject from this one!</p>
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<p>The subject might have been different, but the quote applies here.</p>
<p>Currently, the only way to achieve immortality of any kind would be to do something huge. Doesn't matter if it was good or bad. People will always remember both Hitler &amp; Gandhi. And so will Newton, Galileo, Einstein and many more such people.</p>
<p>But who knows, maybe…</p>
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And how eloquent of you to quote Sam Harris, out of context, talking about a separate subject from this one!</p>
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<p>The subject might have been different, but the quote applies here.</p>
<p>Currently, the only way to achieve immortality of any kind would be to do something huge. Doesn't matter if it was good or bad. People will always remember both Hitler &amp; Gandhi. And so will Newton, Galileo, Einstein and many more such people.</p>
<p>But who knows, maybe sometime in the future they might find ways to keep people alive, in some form or another, indefinitely. But until then, death is a <strong>reality.</strong> Only your work, your ideas &amp; your memory will live on through the people who knew you or were influenced by your work or ideas. For how long you will be remembered depends on how great were your ideas &amp; work.</p> My greatest fear of death ari…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-06-13:1982180:Comment:7031972011-06-13T15:25:41.535ZArtorhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Artor
My greatest fear of death arises from the time I've wasted and the regrets for opportunities missed. Best to live your life as fully as possible, and when your time comes, look back and say to yourself, "Well done..."
My greatest fear of death arises from the time I've wasted and the regrets for opportunities missed. Best to live your life as fully as possible, and when your time comes, look back and say to yourself, "Well done..." Hear, hear, Gordon!!!tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-06-13:1982180:Comment:7031952011-06-13T15:23:41.438ZArtorhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Artor
Hear, hear, Gordon!!!
Hear, hear, Gordon!!! Meh, I don't put much stock i…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2011-06-13:1982180:Comment:7031922011-06-13T15:22:53.903ZArtorhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/Artor
Meh, I don't put much stock in life extension solving the world's problems. After all, we're overpopulated as it is. How will things get better if people stop dying? And even if immortality becomes available, most of us will never have the opportunity. The immortal gazzillionaires will reserve the tech only for themselves and their most dedicated and useful servants. That doesn't sound like a worthwhile goal to me.
Meh, I don't put much stock in life extension solving the world's problems. After all, we're overpopulated as it is. How will things get better if people stop dying? And even if immortality becomes available, most of us will never have the opportunity. The immortal gazzillionaires will reserve the tech only for themselves and their most dedicated and useful servants. That doesn't sound like a worthwhile goal to me.